1929 Ford Hi-Boy Roadster

Contributed by Pat McGauley

Updated 2:44 pm, Friday, January 4, 2013

Photo: Stephen Finerty, Photograph By Stephen Finerty -

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In 2010 Pat McGauley retired from the graphic arts industry and made the move from sunny Manhattan Beach, Ca. to even sunnier San Rafael. He is a proud owner of a 1929 Ford Hi-Boy Roadster, that looks exacly like the model he built when he was twelve.

In 2010 Pat McGauley retired from the graphic arts industry and made the move from sunny Manhattan Beach, Ca. to even sunnier San Rafael. He is a proud owner of a 1929 Ford Hi-Boy Roadster, that looks exacly

'I still get a kick out of owning and driving the real-life counterpart to my "model"Model A roadster from so long ago. It continues to be my favorite "blast from the past." '

'I still get a kick out of owning and driving the real-life counterpart to my "model"Model A roadster from so long ago. It continues to be my favorite "blast from the past." '

Photo: Stephen Finerty, Photograph By Stephen Finerty -

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'I felt like a teenager again, except this time I wasn't just admiring my little showpiece on a shelf; I was actually driving it. '

'I felt like a teenager again, except this time I wasn't just admiring my little showpiece on a shelf; I was actually driving it. '

Photo: Stephen Finerty

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'One of my first models was a 1932 Ford roadster, arguably the granddaddy of all hot rods. I combined it with a 1929 Model A body and spent many weeks perfecting my little "hi-boy" street rod. I entered a local model car contest and won first place. I got a real metal trophy to take home, along with a free model car kit.'

'One of my first models was a 1932 Ford roadster, arguably the granddaddy of all hot rods. I combined it with a 1929 Model A body and spent many weeks perfecting my little "hi-boy" street rod. I entered a local

'When I was finally old enough to drive I naturally indulged my taste for real-life hot rods, but eventually marriage and kids - not to mention speeding tickets - put an end to that pursuit. '

'When I was finally old enough to drive I naturally indulged my taste for real-life hot rods, but eventually marriage and kids - not to mention speeding tickets - put an end to that pursuit. '

Photo: Stephen Finerty, Photograph By Stephen Finerty -

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'In some mystical way I felt this one belonged to me. After all, I once owned its miniature clone 40 years before. So off I drove in my real full-size Ford hi-boy roadster.'

'In some mystical way I felt this one belonged to me. After all, I once owned its miniature clone 40 years before. So off I drove in my real full-size Ford hi-boy roadster.'

Photo: Stephen Finerty, Photograph By Stephen Finerty -

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Since the original owner hadn't done much work on it for many years, I spent the next few months rebuilding the engine, replacing worn parts, upgrading the fuel and intake system and re-chroming everything I could get my hands on.

Since the original owner hadn't done much work on it for many years, I spent the next few months rebuilding the engine, replacing worn parts, upgrading the fuel and intake system and re-chroming everything I

'I felt like a teenager again, except this time I wasn't just admiring my little showpiece on a shelf; I was actually driving it.'

'I felt like a teenager again, except this time I wasn't just admiring my little showpiece on a shelf; I was actually driving it.'

Photo: Stephen Finerty, Photograph By Stephen Finerty -

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I kept the original paint job because, despite a few small dings here and there, the 42-year-old lacquer still maintained its vintage luster. And with the hand-painted pin-striping, the retro look was a cool reminder of how things were done "back in the day."

I kept the original paint job because, despite a few small dings here and there, the 42-year-old lacquer still maintained its vintage luster. And with the hand-painted pin-striping, the retro look was a cool

'Now flash-forward to 2002 when I saw a vintage Ford roadster at the Costa Mesa Classic Car show painted the exact same color as my little model roadster. It had an original '29 body sitting on deuce rails with the '32 grille and, just like mine, it had the same top and metallic Midnight Blue paint job.'

'Now flash-forward to 2002 when I saw a vintage Ford roadster at the Costa Mesa Classic Car show painted the exact same color as my little model roadster. It had an original '29 body sitting on deuce rails with

In 2010 Pat McGauley retired from the graphic arts industry and made the move from sunny Manhattan Beach, Ca. to even sunnier San Rafael.

I grew up in Manhattan Beach during the 1950s, which at that time was a tiny Southern California beach town. Being on the leading edge of the post-war Baby Boomers, I got my first exposure to the California hot rod culture when I was about 12.

Of course, I was too young to have my own car, so I did the next best thing. I started building model cars, incorporating some of the painting techniques that a neighbor taught me.

One of my first models was a 1932 Ford roadster, arguably the granddaddy of all hot rods. I combined it with a 1929 Model A body and spent many weeks perfecting my little "hi-boy" street rod. I entered a local model car contest and won first place. I got a real metal trophy to take home, along with a free model car kit.

Over the next couple of years I built many different exotic model cars and won more awards, but my favorite was always that little "deuce" roadster. When I was finally old enough to drive I naturally indulged my taste for real-life hot rods, but eventually marriage and kids - not to mention speeding tickets - put an end to that pursuit. After that, it was all VWs, Toyotas and minivans.

Now flash-forward to 2002 when I saw a vintage Ford roadster at the Costa Mesa Classic Car show painted the exact same color as my little model roadster. It had an original '29 body sitting on deuce rails with the '32 grille and, just like mine, it had the same top and metallic Midnight Blue paint job. That little plastic model from 1962 is now long gone (probably a casualty of my little brother's firecrackers), but I remember it like it was yesterday.

The amazing resemblance was so uncanny I felt that there must be some kind of cosmic connection. The owner wasn't quite ready to sell it, but several months later we negotiated a price. In some mystical way I felt this one belonged to me. After all, I once owned its miniature clone 40 years before. So off I drove in my real full-size Ford hi-boy roadster.

I felt like a teenager again, except this time I wasn't just admiring my little showpiece on a shelf; I was actually driving it. Since the original owner hadn't done much work on it for many years, I spent the next few months rebuilding the engine, replacing worn parts, upgrading the fuel and intake system and re-chroming everything I could get my hands on. I kept the original paint job because, despite a few small dings here and there, the 42-year-old lacquer still maintained its vintage luster. And with the hand-painted pin-striping, the retro look was a cool reminder of how things were done "back in the day."

In 2010 I moved to Marin County, and my little roadster was the first thing to roll off the moving van. Since then I have been going to most of the local car shows and parades here in the North Bay. I volunteer at the Marin History Museum, and so whenever I'm asked, I carry their banner on my car for the Fourth of July parades.

I still get a kick out of owning and driving the real-life counterpart to my "model"Model A roadster from so long ago. It continues to be my favorite "blast from the past."

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